Spring cushioned wheel



A. c. sALlsBURY l-:TAL

SPRING CUSHIONED WHEEL Filed July 20, 1942 Joh/r F Sa//Jha/ y AUTOR/Vix Patented Oct. 19, 1943 Amnioltsalisbmana J hnFt-Salsbury, Inde, l

` ,'.pendence,Mo. u y fAppii'eationJqry `210,- 194.2, Seriana/ 451,565

c1. 15gg-119;. r

Our, invention relates to Yimprm/ernents' in spring cushioned `wheels andrefersmore particularly toa wheel constructionadaptable for use on Vehiclesof anynature.where.cushioningv of road shocks is an advantage, and' one in whi'ch vertical movement ofthe vehicle ,caused lyirgregu-A larities ofthe terrain or road overwhich thervehicle `is `passing is .transmitted Vsimultaneonsly and the shockV uniformly distributed yover` the en-f tire system of .springsor spring assembliesptfthe wheels receivingtheshocl Thus, the shock-.and stress putupongthewheels by such irregularities is absorbed evenly throughout the spring systemv of Athewheelsinstead ,otheing imposed only upon the springs substantially inver-tical alignment with the force of the shook as is usual in spring cushioned` wheelzconstruction. n j ,y

Theconstruction has other advantagesainllld ing simplicity ,of design; ruggedness; gandfthezfat that springs of relativelylower-,stress or tension maybe employed, yincreased flexibility and irnproved ridingqualities` are attained. f A v In the accompanying drawing whichzformsra part Aof the instant specicationA and'. areztorbeire'aid in conjunction therewith. and in ,which like: reference" numerals are used toindicatei like partsfin the various views,4

Fig. 1 is a side, broken-away' virewvof the mechanism, v

Fig'. 2 is an enlarged cross vsectional viewiftaken along the line 2 2 in Fig. 1, in the-'directiorlrof the arrows,` l

Fig. 3 is a partialsideviewoflthemechansm showing the manner iin whi'chffthe springfassembly operates,

Fig. 4 is a partial tion, and l LFig. 5 isv a-detailed view showing ax-no'diiied type of construction of thecross pin bearings.`

The wheel upon which the spring cushioning constructionismounted maybe of any suitable type. As here shown and referring particularly to Fig. 2, the WheelA isan automobile wheeLhav'- vview of a modi'ed cons-true'- ving a hub lu to whim-isnxedly. attached' aviiub plate Il. 'Tofthe-hub-platerisfasteneda Abrake drum I2 by means of rivets lf3; A hard rubber'tire I4 -is mountedl uponfa rim [5 which' is carriedloy afelly t6. `Sepa-rated by the width of thefvfe'lly and xedly attached 4to the felly and-rim are two rim platesy I1. These rim plates have central apertures surrounding'v the hub which apertures have the form of a multi-sided figure; in theI pre'- ferred 'formofconstruction shown i'nFi'gs. 13-3; in-

ifgnat'ed by the-numeral Ho.- shapeotliese holes or apertures is riot-limited Jttia hexagonal figure', it being necessary on-l'y-ltolrave the numberof corners? wlri'flzh theylhavea correspond to the number or *slots inthe-'rifa plates nearthe rin-11 order'to accommodate-the endgcross pins'- ort'lie'Y spring assemblies ers-*willl bel'alter explaine The* cprnersof these hexagonal apertures' are for con# verrien'eeV designated as I V1li.. `n thef-irimploetes;

adjacentf the of the` wheel'` are @plurality off i are circula'rj'pertllresj li'fd intherirnj plates. Olie hundredjand -twenty'd-egrees apart in the .een-ter of,'v vllfe'h"Y ajre positioned'` spacer bolts Vff, sin@ rounded' Aloryl slee es; 'fwhi'ch maintain 'the tene S'QriLplateS' zvilposi'tion and trans it' the ystress f starting stoppngpto the Wheei assembly- 'I'rle circular-tales udine-mit a limited-misura ferential. movement of thespacer bolts P8? around the hetv otti; 'wheel in stopping and. t st' 'ring' andradiallygoij thewlr d` rngthe actua of thasprinesin.cusliiionmgrroad snock The tension plates-20' are also' t'wca` in nun'ijer', spaced. apart as, szletsoribedy by boltswand sleevestf and Hand are.rigidlyattachedto t/A` hej "',lrub by riire'ts .011.ot`lfier` vsuitalfolel.I,astanting; shownwfat IBA The tensionplates, as showhfl tlf'ielltefe ed formi in. Figs,- 1.,. 2'.a r.1d,3 hai/est De tral apertures fila, the,numlerdofpointpl he stars Corresponding to-.t'henu'mber of 4kGGJ-ls.-01 (sides:'in` thegfcentral an@'rft'ilifes` .ITai rof. ,the rim plates.I Q., VSixrs-ided starsA 2541.1. lare vshow'n 'in the drawingto loor'respondwto the hexagone; f f th v :tension plates have .cielilar s-.primetra seallopedfwith invertedleumes 20h {r1-radial ,alig'jnniente. withi ,ttheoends .of he pointsY `ofC the starex-tending throng-initiales; irre the ,or'os'sopinsl are guide rodsZ,l imposition.'byfriretngz.their reduced -outer ende the outerlspr-inecanehors.

that an adjustment as shown also to better hold the rim and tension plates in spaced apart relationship, thereby eliminating frictional contact therebetween.

The cross pins 25 of the outer spring anchors slide in the slots llc in the rim plates, which slots extend radially from the rims toward the central hexagonal apertures and ride upon the inverted curves h of the tension plates.

The cross pins 24 of the inner spring anchors I are positioned in the corners 11b of themultisided or hexagonal apertures Ila in the rim plates I1 and in the rounded points of the star-shape apertures 20a of thetension plates 20. i Y In the modified form of construction shown in Fig. 4, the rim plates and tension plates are simi,-` larly associated with respectto the wheel construction as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the principal differences being in the shape of the aper-v tures in the respective plates, for reception of the cross pins and the type of spring assembly use d. In this modified form, the outer slots llc inthe rim plates extendingfrom the rim inwardly have the same shape as the slots in the preferred form. The central apertures in the rim plates, inthe modified construction, are circular in form, instead of multi-sided figures. Likewise, the tension plates 20 are circular offering smooth edges and continuous curves as the riding surfaces for the outer cross pins instead of the scalloped depressions Zilb on the edges of the tension plates of the preferred form. The central apertures in the tension plates are shown as individual` slots 2|.lc in place of the star-shaped apertures'20d shown in the preferred form. The springassembly in the modified formis shown as springs 2| positioned between inner cross pins 24`and outer cross pins 25. End connections 26 are used to attach the ends of the spring 2| to the cross pins.

Inner cross pins 24 ride upon the circular edges of the central apertures' of the rim plates `and. also slide in the slots 20c of the tension plates. Outer cross pins slide in slots llc of the rim plates and ride upon the circular rims or outer edges of the tension plates 20.

It will be noted that tension springs only are used throughout, resulting in greater flexibility, reduction in friction and increased cushioning action. i i

closure rings 28 and 29. The central hole in the front enclosure is closed by a hub cap 30 of conventional design.

In operation, the functioning of the preferred and modified form is generally the same and is as follows: As the wheel passes over a depression in the terrain, the weight of the vehicle will impose a vertical force downwardly upon the wheel. This force is transmitted from the axle to the hub, `thence to the tension plates. The rims of the tension plates, acting against the outer cross pins 25 of the spring assemblies below the hub puts additional stress upon the spring assemblies at this location.

Although but three spacer pins have been shown between the tension plates at intervalsof one `hundred and twenty degrees around the wheel, the number may be increased to obtain greater rigidity. Holes in the rim must bev provided sufficiently cumferential movement of the pins.

Furthermore, the number and strength ofthe tension springs used inthe spring assemblies is dependent upon the weight of the load to be large to permit radial and circarried or the weight to be supported bythe It- 'is e `contemplated diagrammatically in the modified construction in Fig. 4 may be used to vary the .tension on thesprings.

spring cushioned wheels.

The spring cushioning mechanism of Vthe. wheel r A is enclosed at the front and rear by annular entop of the Simultaneously, the inner cross pins 2 ,4 at the wheel or above the hub riding on the points of the star-shaped apertures of the tension plates will move downwardly putting in- I creased stress on the springs at the top of the wheel.

At the same time, the inner and outer cross pins of spring assemblies located between the top and bottom positions will be affected by the rim and tension plate surfaces against which they ride and are engaged to put corresponding stress on the springs in these locations. l Conversely, when the wheel rides over a bump in the terrain or road the outer cross pins at the bottom of the wheel will again be pushed downwardly by the action of the lower edges of the tension plates and increased stress put on the springs below thehub. The springs above the hub will likewise be stressed by action of the points or surfaces of the star-shaped apertures in the tension plates pulling downwardly upon the inner cross pins and expanding the springs whose outer ends are anchored in the rim slots of rim plates at the top of the wheel. The intermediate spring assemblies between the top and bottom `will operate in the same manner to that when a depression is encountered.

It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be ernployed without reference to` other features and sub-combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of our claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of our claims Without departing from the spirit of our invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that our invention is not tobe limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A spring cushioned Wheel comprising hub, rim, andtire members, rim plates fastened to the rim and having apertures centrally thereof in radial alignment with corresponding Aapertures adjacent the rim, tension plates outside the rim plates fastened to the hub and havingapertures in substantialregistration with the central apertures of the rim'plates, the outer edges of the tension plates extending substantially to Vthe inner edges of the aperturesin the rim plates adjacent the rim, spring assemblies having cross `pins atthe inner and outer ends of the springs, said inner cross pins sliding in the central apertures of the rim and tension plates, said outer cross pinssliding in the apertures ofthe rim 3; YAlspring cushioned wheel comprising hub,

rim, and tire members, rim lplates fastened to the rim and having centrally located multi-sided apertures therein, apertures in the rim plates adjacent the rim andl radially opposite the corners of the multi-sided apertures, tension plates outside the rim plates aflixed to the hub having f central apertures with radial extensions correspondingwith and in alignment with `the corners of the multi-sided aperturesin the rim plates, -J

the outer edges of the tension plates having depressions therein in radial alignment with the corners of the multi-sided apertures in the rim plates, spring assemblies having cross pins at the inner and outer ends of the springs, said inner cross pins positioned in the corners of the multisided apertures of the rim plates and inthe radial E extensionsof the `tension plates, said outer pins sliding in the apertures of the rim plates adjacent the rim and riding upon the depressions on the outer edges of the tension plates.

radially disposed tensionspririg-assemblies iny cluding members attached to both-the inner and outer ends of the springs and contactingsurfaces of the rim and tension plates,y the outer 'members i I mounted to have limited movement substantially radial away from the hub andthe inner members mounted to have limited movement substantiallyy radial toward the hub, said arrangement adapted to distribute forces imposed upon'the Wheel by irregularities of the terrain and the Weight of the load carried uniformly over the entire'syste'm of spring assemblies. y l

6. A spring cushioned Wheel comprising a hub,

a rim, rim plates fastened `to the rim, radially disposed tension spring assemblies including members attached to the outer ends of the springs and members attached tothe inner ends of the l springs, said outer members supported by the'rim` plates and having "a limited radial movement away vfrom the hub and said inner members supported by the'rim plates and having a limited radial movement toward the hub, and disc shaped tension plates fastened to the hub having -their outer peripheries engaging the outer Amerribers of the spring assemblies and their innerperipheries engaging thel innermembers of the spring assemblies. s

^ AMON C. SALISBURY.

JOHN F. vSALISBURY.y 

